Ahead of Mother’s Day, many of us are reflecting on the many things that our beautiful caregivers did to ensure that we grew up healthy and well-rounded. It could be sacrifices that our mothers made or advice that she gave us. Either way, moms always have the greatest impact on our lives.

First Lady Michelle Obama took a moment to open up about her mother’s parenting method, showing appreciation for her mom giving her the freedom to explore by way of travel.

“Even though our family was crammed into a tiny apartment, one of the greatest gifts she gave me was the freedom to explore and develop into my own person,” the Chicago native said in a pre-Mother’s Day post on Instagram. “For instance, even though we didn’t have much money, she and my dad cobbled enough money together to send me on a high-school trip to Paris, which opened up the world to me in so many ways.”

RELATED: Here’s What Barack Obama Has To Say About Travel And Tourism

Michelle has continued the family tradition with her own daughters, Sasha and Malia.

“Now that I’m raising kids of my own, I wanted to pass that lesson on to my own girls. I’ve been so fortunate to be able to travel with Sasha and Malia all across the country and around the world—experiences my mother never would have dreamed of back when I was their age. But though the settings may be different, the message is the same, and it’s one I hope mothers everywhere pass on to their daughters—in seeking out new perspectives and reaching outside of our comfort zones, we can discover more about ourselves.”